Premium container



June 25, 1963 N, T. ExToN PREMIUM CONTAINER Filed Oct. 22, 1959 INV EN TOR. /l/o/emw EXTO/V BY United States Patent O 3,095,109 PREMIUM CONTAINER Norman T. Exton, Harbor Acres, Sands Point, N.Y., assigner to Gilbert Manufacturing Company, Inc., Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 848,019 7 Claims. (Cl. 220-23) This invention relates to containers and more particularly to a container `for holding a premium which is attached to an article which is to be sold by the closure member of the article.

In many types of retail merchandising activities it is desirable to offer a premium in order to induce a prospective customer to purchase a particular article. These premiums are in effect a gift to the prospective customer of some merchandise which is usually, but not necessarily, unrelated to the major article which it to be sold.

In order to induce the customer to purchase the particular article, it is desirable to attach the premium to the article so that the two may be seen together and the presence of the premium will therefore create a favorable buying impression in the mind of the customer. It is also desirable that the article to be sold, and the premium be attractively displayed.

In general, there are many types of saleable articles to which premiums may be attached. 'I'hese articles are packed in many different types of containers vessels. One such type of vessel is a can or bottle which holds liquid or powdered products, for example, cleaning products. These vessels are generally characterized in that they have a neck portion and a closure member such as a cap which is placed on the neck in order to effect a seal for the product within the vessel.

The present invention is directed toward premium containers :for use With vessels having such neck portions. However, its principles may also iind application in the eld of premium containers for use with other types of vessels having other types of structure. In accordance with the present invention, an annular shaped premium container is provided which fits over the neck of the vessel. The top portion of the premium container is made of transparent material so that the premium may be seen by the prospective customer. The cap of the vessel to which the container is to be attached is formed with a lianged portion. When the cap is fastened on the neck of the vessel, the flanged portion presses against the transparent container top and secures the premium container to the vessel. The cap ilange is made Wide enough to cover the opening between the neck of the vessel and the top of the container in order to prevent dust from accumulating between ythe neck and the container and ruining the sales appeal of the package combination. The ange on the cap also permits advertising messages to be printed thereon or for an advertising label to be fastened under the flange.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a premium container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a premium container for use with a vehicle having a neck portion.

Still a further object of Vthis invention is to provide an annular shaped premium container which fits around the neck portion of ya vessel.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a premium container which is used in conjunction with a vessel having a neck portion, the vessel also having a ilanged cap which fastens on the neck, the cap securing the premium container to the vessel.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention 3,095,139 Patented June 25, 1963 will become more `apparent upon reference to the following speciiication and annexed drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is -a perspective elevational view of the present invention;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are various embodiments of the A-A of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of another emlbodiment ofthe invention.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the premium container 10 is located on top of a vessel 11. The vessel 11 may be any type which is suitable for holding the product which is to be sold. While the vessel 11 is illustratively shown as a can it should be realized that other types of vessels may be used, for example, plastic containers, bottles, etc.

As shown in FIGURES 2-5 the vessel 11 is formed with a flat shoulder 14. A rim 16 is formed around the circumference of `the shoulder '14 Where it joins the Wall of the vessel. Located in the center of the vessel shoulder 14 is a neck 17 having an opening 19 therein which communicates with the interior of the vessel. 'Ihe material which is housed in the interior of the vessel 11 is placed into or poured out of the container through the opening 19 partial sectional views of invention taken along line The neck `17 may be made of any material which is suitable for the product which the vessel houses. For example, in the case -of modern day detergents, the vessel 11 would be a metal can or plastic bottle and the neck 17 would be of plastic material Which is suitably joined to the shoulder f14 of the vessel. It should be realized that other materials, such as metal or glass may also be used for the neck, the particular materials used for the neck and vessel not being critical for the present invention. The neck 17 is formed with threads 20 which accommodate a closure member such as a cap 22. The bottom portion of the neck also has an outwardly flared portion 24 around the circumference thereof Which acts as a stop for the bottom of the cap 22.

The premium container of FIGURE 2 is formed in two sections. The first section is a at base portion 25 which is integrally molded with an inner wall 27 and a rim 29 which extends around the base 25. The first section of the container, formed by the 'base 25, inner Wall 27 and rim 29, is preferably made of an opaque plastic material. It should be realized however that transparent plastic as well as other types of materials, such as metal may be utilized, if desired. The inner Wall 27 forms an opening which flts over the flared out portion 24 of the neck 14. It should be realized that the inner Wall 27 may be constructed so that the opening formed thereby may be of any shape which is necessary to conform to the shapeV of the bottom of the neck 14. For example, the opening formed by the inner wall 27 may be circular, square, triangular, rectangular, polygonal, octagonal, etc.

While the base 25 is shown as circular and as resting on the rim 16 it should be realized that Ithe base y25 may be made of another shape, for example triangular, rectangular, square, polygonal, etc. and also constructed to fit inside the rim 16, Without `departing from the scope of the invention. It should `also be realized that While the shoulder 14 ofthe vessel is shown as being substantially dat, that the premium container of the present invention maybe utilized wit-h a vessel having sloping or other types of irregular shoulders merel-y by shaping the base 25 to conform to lthese various types of shoulders.

The second sectioniof the premium container is a cover 31. The cover 31 is preferably made of a flexible transl parent plastic so that the prospective purchaser may be able to see the premiums which are displayed in the container. The iiexible cover 31 is shaped to conform -to the shape of the base 25 so that its bottom edge tsinside of the rim 29 and forms a tight seal therewith. The upper portion of the cover 31 is bent so as to overlay the inner wall 27 and be substantially perpendicular thereto. The top ofthe cover 31 is alsp, provided with an opening to accommodate a between the base 25 and .the Vcover mium merchandise is -to'be placed; In FIGURE l, these premiums are shown as circular objects 30 which, for example, might be beads, marbles, or other similar articles. It should be realized that any ty-pe of merchandise may be placed within thepremium container, also, it desired, the cover 3K1 may have placed thereon, by printing, embossing, or some other suitable process, an advertising message.

In order to secure the premium container to the vessel 11 a capY 22 is provided. The cap 22 has a `flange 34 integrally formed therewith around its circumference. The flange 31 is made wide enough to cover the opening between the inner wall 27 and; the neck 17, andthe cover 31 lies under the ange. Thel cap 22 may be made of plastic, metal o r any suitable material. The cap 22 is formed internally with threads 36 which are screwed down onto the threads 20 of the neck 14. In order to make a tight closure for the vesesl :11 the inner top wall of the cap 22 is formed with a circular ridge 37 which engages the'top of the neck t17 and makes a seal therewith. As the c-ap 22 is screwed down onto the threads 20, the ange 34 lengages the outside of the top of the cover 31 and/thereby secures the premium container assembly to the vessel I1-1.

As shown in 'FIGURE 2, the portion of the cap 22 below the tiange 34 is located between the outer wall of the neck `17 and the inner wall 27. The cover 31 is formed so th-at when the cap 22 is Vscrewed down toits proper position, usually by meansA of a suitable tool such as an automatic torque wrench, there is an opening lef-t between the cover 31 and the top of the inner wall 27. This arrangement is suitable for holding in the premium container objects such as jewelry, marbles, beads and other types of solid lobjects which cannot escape through the aforesaid opening. VIn FIGURES 3 and 4 embodi-ments Of the premium container are shown which are designed to hold solid objectsas well as powdered substances, for example, soap powders.

In FIGURE 3, the inner wall 27 is extendedupwardly to engage the inside of the cover 31. As the cap 22 is tightened, the flange 34 presses the cover 31 against the top of the inner wall, thereby forming a seal so that any merchandise located` within the premium container cannotV escape therefrom, kIn the embodiment of the yinvention shown iniFIGURE 4, the cover 31'Y is formed with a lip 39 which extends over the inner wall 27 around its inner circumference. The inner wall v27 is also extended upwardly so that thetop of the inner wall makes contact with the inside of the cover 31. In this embodiment of the invention, as the cap 22 istightened, the flange 3'4 presses the cover 31 against the top of the inner wall 27 and Ithe lip 39 forms a seal.

It is readily seen that the premium container assembly of the present invention has many advantages. OneV advantage is .that the high of premium containers before a container is placed around the neck ofthe vessel to which it example, suppose the merchandise which is to be placed in a premium container is a string of pearls or a bracelet. It is only necessary to place the merchandise around the inner wall 27. No matter how the premiumcontainer is tipped the object cannot fall out Eof it. This feature 'allows preloading of may be placed on the vessel `'for rapid Iinal assembly'before the cap |22 is tightened to the neck. v

In addition to acting as the means for securing the premium con-tainer to the vessel, the ange 34 of the cap 22 311 in which the prealso provides additional advantages. One of these ad-4 vantages is that the ilange 34 acts as a seal against dust cap, This arrangement provides a space inner wall 27 allows preloading is to be attached. 'For the premium containers so that theyv only engages the nan-ge since it completely covers the open space between the neck 17 and the inner wall 27 of the premium container. This prevents the accumulation of dust or other particles in this space. If the ange were not provided the dust would get into the space and would be diicult for the storekeeper -to clean. Such dust makes the merchandise unsightly and in many cases would make it diflcult to sell.

Advertising messages may also be printed on the top of the ange 34 and advertising labels or circulars may also be placed under the ange' 34 and thereby be secured against the top of the cover 31. These advertising labels and messages prove advantageous in merchandising the product as well as in advertising the premium which is oiered with the product.

The use of the ange 34 also protects the top of the transparent cover 31 when the cap 22 is fastened by the torque tool since the tool cannot hit the cover 31 but 34. This prevents the cover 31 from being marred during assembly. Additionally the -ange 34 may be suitably shaped with indentations for the ngers to grasp. After the premium container has been removed, these indentations would make it easier for a person Iutilizing the product in the vessel 11 to remove the cap 22 therefrom.

In another embodiment `of the invention shown in FIGURE 5 the cover and the ange are integrally formed as one piece 41. The .iirst section of the container formed by the base 2S, inner wall 27 and rimV 29 is the same as that previously described. The remainder of the elements of the premium container are the same as those `described in lvFIGURES 3-4. Tlhis embodiment of the invention is easier to assemble since there are only two pieces, the base 25 andY the `flange-cover 41. I'he flange-cover 41 may be scored at the juncture of the capand the-cover so that the ange-cover may be broken awayffrom the cap22 and discarded after the premium is removed Afrom the premium container.

f Therefore, itis seen that a novel premium container has been provided which is economical to construct and which is attractive for display purposes. The premium container is transparent so that the premium which is to be given away with the product may be readily seen. The container issecured to the vessel by a cap having a ange around its circumference. The flange serves to keep dust or other particles out of the space between` the premium container and the neck of the vessel and also has other advantages from additional advertising space as well as preventing the transparent portion of the premium container from becoming marred lor scratched while the cap is fastened to the neck.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above it will be understood that this embodiment is illustrative only and the invention is to be limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: c

1. The combination of a unitized premium container tor use with a vessel, said vessel having a shoulder and a neck portion extending above said shoulder, said neck having an opening communicating with the vessel and being formed with thread-like members thereon for holding a cap thereto to seal the said con-V tents inlthe vessel, said premium container comprising a base member` having an opening therein for fitting around said neck, said base member resting on the shoulder of said vessel, an inner wall extending upwardly from said base around said opening andsurrounding at least a portionY of said neck, said inner wall having a opening at the top thereof whichV is substantially coaxial' with the opening in the base, a rim around the outer edge of said base, said rim being lower in height than said inner wall, a one-piece cover formed with a wall having a bottom portion which engages the'rim to hold the cover to the base and a top portion which extends over said the standpoint of providingV the contents ofv base and lies adjacent the top of said inner wall, said cover lhaving an opening in the top thereof which is substantially coaxial with the opening in the inner wall, said Ibase and cover forming a unitized container for holding a premium therein when separated from said vessel, and a cap member having means thereon for fastening said cap to the thread-like members on said neck, said cap sealing the contents of the vessel therewithin and having a ange portion adjacent said cover for securing the container to said vessel.

2. The unitized premium container of claim 1 wherein the top of said cover overlays the top rof said inner wall and is spaced therefrom.

3. The unitized premium container of claim l wherein the top of said cover overlays and engages the top of said inner wall.

4. The uuitized premium container of claim 1 wherein the top `of said cover overlays the top of said inner wall and has a turned down portion lwhich iits between the inner wall and the neck `of the vessel.

5. The lunitized premium container of claim 1 wherein said cover and said flange are of one-piece construction, said cover .being separable from said iiange.

6. The combination of a lunitized premium container -for use with a vessel, said vessel having a shoulder and a neck portion extending above said shoulder, said neck having an opening communicating with the contents of the vessel and being formed with thread-like members thereon for holding a cap thereto to seal the said contents in the vessel, said premium container comprising a .base member having an opening therein Ifor fitting around said neck, said hase member resting on the shoulder of said vessel, an inner wall extending upwardly from said hase around said opening and surrounding at least a portion of said neck, said inner wall being spaced from said neck and having an opening at the top thereof which is substantially coaxial with the opening in the hase, a rim around the outer edge of said hase, a onepiece cover formed with a wall having a bottom portion which engages the rim to hold the cover to the hase and a top portion which extends over said lbase and lies adjacent the top of said inner wall, said cover having an opening in the top thereof which is substantially coaxial with the opening in the inner wall, said base and said cover forming a unitize'd container for holding a premium therein when separated from said vessel, and a cap member having means thereon for fastening said cap to the thread-like members on said neck for sealing the contents of the Vessel therewithin, said cap having a skirt portion which extends downwardly into the space lbetween the said neck and the inner wall and a lange portion engaging said cover and seeming the container to said vessel.

7. The unitized premium container .of claim 6 wherein the top of said neck extends above the top of said cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,439,076 Edwards Dec. y19, 1922 1,486,374 Gesell Mar. 11, 1924 1,606,563 Deane Nov. 9, 1926 1,858,134 Booth et al. May 10, 1932 2,271,943 Klein Feb'. 3, 1942 2,355,583 Derham A-ug. 8, 1944 FOREiGN PATENTS 1,204 Great Britain 1878 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A UNITIZED PREMIUM CONTAINER FOR USE WITH A VESSEL, SAID VESSEL HAVING A SHOULDER AND A NECK PORTION EXTENDING ABOVE SAID SHOULDER, SAID NECK HAVING AN OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH THE CONTENTS OF THE VESSEL AND BEING FORMED WITH THREAD-LIKE MEMBERS THEREON FOR HOLDING A CAP THERETO TO SEAL THE SAID CONTENTS IN THE VESSEL, SAID PREMIUM CONTAINER COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FOR FITTING AROUND SAID NECK, SAID BASE MEMBER RESTING ON THE SHOULDER OF SAID VESSEL, AN INNER WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE AROUND SAID OPENING AND SURROUNDING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID NECK, SAID INNER WALL HAVING A OPENING AT THE TOP THEREOF WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH THE OPENING IN THE BASE, A RIM AROUND THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID BASE, SAID RIM BEING LOWER IN HEIGHT THAN SAID INNER WALL, A ONE-PIECE COVER FORMED WITH A WALL HAVING A BOTTOM PORTION WHICH ENGAGES THE RIM TO HOLD THE COVER TO THE BASE AND A TOP PORTION WHICH EXTENDS OVER SAID BASE AND LIES ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID INNER WALL, SAID COVER HAVING AN OPENING IN THE TOP THEREOF WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH THE OPENING IN THE INNER WALL, SAID BASE AND COVER FORMING A UNITIZED CONTAINER FOR HOLDING A PREMIUM THEREIN WHEN SEPARATED FROM SAID VESSEL, AND A CAP MEMBER HAVING MEANS THEREON FOR FASTENING SAID CAP TO THE THREAD-LIKE MEMBERS ON SAID NECK, SAID CAP SEALING THE CONTENTS OF THE VESSEL THEREWITHIN AND HAVING A FLANGE PORTION ADJACENT SAID COVER FOR SECURING THE CONTAINER TO SAID VESSEL. 